Field Trip #1- Neighborhood Walk

I live in gainesville currently, and my house is surrounded by many types of plants and animals. It is not strange to hear an owl at night, nor some strange bird making sounds. Originally from Ohio, when I first lived in Florida I was always interested in the different plants and wildlife found around my home.

The top picture is an image of our banana tree, still working on growing out for the summer. We've had it grow banana's, but never actually eaten any. I'm fairly certain they are plantains, but not exactly sure where they came from. We also have several types of palm trees. These were also very cool and nice to look at while living in Ohio and only dreaming of palm trees and beaches. We have different types, some more low to the ground, and others taller, such as the second picture shows. There were many other plants as well that my parents like to plant, although I am not certain as to what everything is.

Questions:

1. How many different types of palm trees are there?

2. What banana trees are inedible, if any?

3. Are banana trees indigenous to Florida?

4. What kinds of birds live around this habitat?

5. There are many banana spiders in the summer and fall and I've heard they never go indoors, why?

6. How long do banana trees take to grow?

7. Are the banana trees annual? Do they grow back every year no matter what?

8. Do non-indigenous plants pose a threat to the natual plants?

9. What kind of animals live here?

10. Why are there no lightning bugs here? Is it too hot?